Lord Mayor offers a lifeline to Brisbane charities

12 May, 2015

Brisbane City Council is offering Brisbane charities a helping hand, by stepping up its efforts to stop dumping of unsaleable items at donation bins and on footpaths across Brisbane.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said that there was a growing trend of household waste being left on footpaths and around charity bins that should instead be disposed of at Council waste transfer stations, which was costing Council and Lifeline hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean-up.

“Charities such as Lifeline operate on the generosity of contributions from the public and are increasing being faced with the costs of removing rubbish left at donation bins,” Cr Quirk said.

“We want to see our charities continue to be able to offer vital services and we want people to understand what types of goods can be donated and what types of goods should be taken to waste transfer stations.

“We want to encourage residents to ‘donate not dump’ to Lifeline and other charity stores, and to dispose of waste safely at one of Council’s waste transfer stations.”

Business Operations Manager at Lifeline, John Hillier, said rubbish left around Lifeline donation bins was costing the organisation up to $100,000 a year to remove.

“We understand that most people make donations of saleable goods to Lifeline with the best intentions and it is important that people understand what items can be donated and what items are unable to be re-used.

“Lifeline receives over 1 million contacts each year from help-seekers via online, face to face and the 24 hour 13 11 14 Crisis Support Line and that’s why proceeds from the sales of donated goods are not just essential, they are life-saving, because when you donate and buy with Lifeline, you help save lives.”

Cr Quirk said household waste, building materials, green waste and hazardous liquid waste are the items most common items illegally dumped, all which could be safely disposed of – at no cost – at one of Council’s waste transfer stations.

“Council offers free annual kerbside collection of large items, free annual hazardous household waste disposal days at transfer stations and 10 free waste disposal vouchers to Council tips each year to help residents dispose of rubbish,” he said.

“Many illegally dumped goods can also be recycled at one of Council’s recycling stations or sold in Council’s Tip Shops. Since 2010, 900 tonnes of goods have been re-sold through Council’s two tip-shops.”

For more information on what can be taken to Council’s waste transfer stations or about kerbside collection, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on 3403 8888.